Case STUDIES

As the UK’s largest coffee shop brand, Costa are committed to increasing the number of takeaway cups recovered and recycled across the UK. It also wants to encourage and incentivise customers to use reusable cups where possible, thereby reducing the number of takeaway cups being sold. To help increase the number of paper cups being recycled, Costa actively promote recycling of paper cups to consumers with online information, via their website and social media pages. An example of one of their recycling infographics can be seen here.

Costa are committed to increasing the number of cups recovered and recycled and have taken a number of steps to help increase recycling rates, whilst educating and incentivise consumers to use less and recycle more. Costa have lead change both within their own stores but also across the industry – looking at the barriers to entry which stop cups from being more widely recycled. Costa also:​

Recycle any branded takeaway coffee cup when left or returned to any of the 2,000 plus Costa Coffee stores across the UK. These cups are collected and recycled by their waste partner, Veolia. Please click here to see Costa’s in-store recycling infographic.

Offer customers a 25p discount when using their own reusable cup (any brand) in store

Sell two multipurpose reusable cups instore, both of which are also fit for purpose in a Costa Express machine

Continue to fund and drive research with The University of Sheffield to better understand the barriers to entry around cup recyclability

Support industry and NGO initiatives to help raise consumer awareness and help promote behavioural change around recycling – such as Hubbub’s ‘Square Mile Challenge’ which launched in April 2017. This project saw a variety of business around London introduce coffee cup recycling facilities.